Kissed by the Sun

by Catrina Calloway

  McGee frowned. “How do we know Todd didn’t go back out again?”

  “The staff—two of the maids at the Davis residence—claim he was home all night.”

  McGee grunted. “They’d swear to anything to keep their jobs.”

  “Yeah, well, one of the other neighbors we questioned said they saw Todd Davis outside on his patio at ten p.m.”

  McGee angled his head. “What was he doing out there?”

  “Supposedly, smoking a cigar.”

  McGee shook his head. “Probably like my wife…won’t let me smoke the damned things in the house.” He eyed Ben first, then Dan. “What about Todd Davis’ wife?”

  “She was out to dinner that night with friends,” Ben answered.

  McGee raised a brow.

  “Came home at nine o’clock that night and stayed home, as per the maids.”

  “And let me guess.” McGee replied sarcastically. “The neighbors saw her, too.”

  “Yup.” Dan answered. “She was walking her…” Dan checked his notes. “Bijan that night, at precisely ten o’clock.”

  McGee snorted. “Wouldn’t the maids do that?”

  “The neighbors all say that Marlene Davis loves the dog. She won’t let anyone, not even her husband, walk it.”

  Ben folded his arms across his chest. “That’s a close-knit, wealthy little neighborhood they live in. It's right next to that church on Jackson Avenue

  . Pretty isolated.”

  McGee held up a hand. “I know where it is.” He thought for a while, scribbling something on a piece of paper. He broke the tip of his pencil then tossed it aside. McGee didn’t look up, he just asked. “What about the other cousins?”

  “The rest of the Davis cousins don’t live here. Three reside in California…two of them live in Scarsdale.”

  “We confronted Todd with that eight thousand dollar cruise bill. He claimed he knew nothing about it.”

  McGee leaned back in his chair. “Did you check with the travel agent who booked it?”

  “Yeah, we did.” Dan answered quickly. “But the girl who booked it is no longer there. And no one else at the travel agency remembers him coming in.”

  “Shit.” This time McGee ran a hand through his hair. He glanced at Dan. “Didn’t you say he was cheating on his wife?”

  “Yeah, I did. However, when we tried to track down the girlfriend, Angela Graff, it’s as if she fell off the face of the earth. We can’t find any trace of her.”

  “Maybe Davis broke it off.”

  “Maybe,” Ben murmured. “We’re still waiting on the results of the fingerprints. What we’re really curious about are any prints from around that broken window.”

  McGee looked Ben square in the eye. “I’ve got Carlee Davis breathing down my neck.”

  Ben narrowed his eyes. “How so?”

  “She wants to open the store again. Claims it’s her busy season.”

  “Did you happen to mention it was a crime scene?” Dan spoke through clenched teeth.

  “Of course, but I can’t keep it closed forever.”

  “Just give us a few more days.” Dan pleaded.

  McGee rubbed his chin. “She’s coming in here this morning. Maybe I can convince her otherwise.”

  “How are you going to do that?”

  McGee nodded. “I’ve got a theory of my own about all of this.”

  Ben and Dan looked at each other.

  “What’s your theory?”

  “I’ll tell you. If you agree, Carlee Davis will be out of our hair, and we’ll be able to continue our investigation in peace.”

  * * * *

  The following day, Carlee walked into the Montauk Police Department.

  “I’m here to see Lieutenant McGee,” she told the desk sergeant in her best ‘Ida’ voice.

  “I’ll show her to the Lieutenant’s office.” Dan walked up to the counter. Placing his hand on Carlee’s lower back, he guided her down the hallway.

  She couldn’t decide if he was herding her or, just being protective.

  They continued walking down the corridor until they stopped in front of a closed door. Carlee looked around. “Where’s Lieutenant McGee?”

  “I’ve got a few things to say to you before you see the Lieutenant.”

  “But—”

  She didn’t get a chance to say another word. Dan ushered her into a small room and flipped the power switch on the wall. Soon, light flooded a small space that contained a table and two chairs. Only one little window sat high up on the opposite wall.

  “Have a seat.” He swept his hand out toward one of the vacant chairs.

  She looked around, her heart racing. How many times over the last several years had she dreamed of being alone with Dan?

  Stuck inside the small room with six feet of rugged maleness made her squirm.

  Damn, if her hormones didn’t betray her again!

  Her body flushed, her clit pulsed, too. She opted to sit, hoping to quell her body’s reaction to him.

  A barely discernible tick in his jaw made Carlee wonder just how angry he was.

  Good. He should be! He and Ben insisted on keeping the poultry store closed during Thanksgiving. She had a bunch of angry customers—people who couldn’t get their Thanksgiving catering orders. She owed them all refunds, and it was more fuel to add to Todd’s mounting bonfire of strikes against her.

  Mainly, she was frightened that someone had tried to kill her—probably a member of her own family.

  If only she could have seen her assailant’s face.

  The thought that one of her own tried to harm her weighed on her heart like a crushing stone.

  She wasn’t about to admit it to Dan, who looked madder than hell at that moment.

  “I can’t believe that all you care about is that goddamned store.” He spoke in a tight, controlled voice.

  She lifted her nose in the air. Crossing her arms across her chest, she replied. “It’s my livelihood, what do you expect?”

  “That you’d have the good sense to be scared. Then again, what else could we expect from a spoiled girl like you?”

  Carlee’s chest heaved. “How dare you say that to me?”

  “Right now, Carlee, I’d dare just about anything.”

  “That’s very big talk coming from someone who can’t seem to find out who attacked me.”

  “Ben and I would love nothing more than to solve this—to find out who attacked you, but we need your help. The store has got to remain a crime scene until—”

  “I lose every last penny?”

  He sighed. “Is that all that matters to you now?”

  “That and you harassing Marlene. She isn’t speaking to me, thanks to you and Ben. She was my on—”

  “We have to question everyone.” Dan pitched his voice low. “Even if it hurts. That’s the only way we’re going to find out who did this.”

  Her voice cracked. “Why did you have to tell her that Todd was cheating on her?” Tears spilled from her eyes.

  “We didn’t say that, we just questioned her about that cruise invoice.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what it meant.” Her lips trembled. “She’s so upset.”

  He reached out and grabbed her shoulders. “If there was some other way to do all this—if there was some way we could avoid touching your precious family, we’d do it.”

  “Todd hates me enough already, and now, your questioning is going to make it worse. Just leave him alone, already.” She tried to shrug away from him.

  Dan narrowed his eyes. “Why are you defending Todd?”

  Because I don’t know if it was him who did this…because if he did, I don’t want him to come after me.

  I’m scared. So scared—a frightened little rabbit.

  The corner of her eye twitched. “I’m not defending Todd.”

  Dan released her shoulders. “I’m not going to argue with you.”

  She angled her chin. “You started it.”

/>   “Still the same little warrior. That hasn’t changed.” His lips curved into a tiny smile, then his face turned serious again. “I’d like to shake some sense into that brain of yours.”

  “Believe me, detective, it’s addled enough already.”

  He snapped his brows together. “This isn’t a joking matter, Carlee.”

  “My mother and her sisters always said, ‘If you can’t look life in the eye and laugh, then you’re not living.’”

  Dan’s frown turned into a scowl. “Ben and I are trying to make sure that you remain…living. What you need is a—”

  Her heart raced, and anticipation flowed through her. “What?” she whispered. She was so close—barely an inch from his mouth. Carlee stood on the tips of her toes and slid her lips across his.

  Dan reached out and tugged her close. Threading his fingers through her mass of wild curls, he tipped back her head and kissed her—hard.

  Carlee clung to his shirt, her nipples peaking. His mouth felt like a fiery hot brand, yet, it wasn’t enough. She needed more. Grinding her mound against him, she teased his lower lip with the tip of her tongue. Her body leapt into flames, she felt the throbbing of her clit right down to her toes.

  He released her abruptly. She landed in the chair behind her, her bottom connecting with the seat.

  “That shouldn’t have happened.” He said in a strained voice, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “I won’t make the same mistake twice.”

  It felt like he'd plunged a knife through her heart.

  “Go see the Lieutenant.” Dan turned his back on her.

  She was sixteen all over again.

  Carlee exited the room and made her way down the hall, the taste of Dan still on her lips, the wound to her heart freshly opened.

  She wouldn’t be anyone’s mistake.

  Not even Dan’s, no matter how much she wanted him.

  Chapter Eight

  Carlee stood in Lieutenant McGee’s office. McGee propped a corner of his hip against his desk. Folding his arms across his chest, he told her. “Miss Davis, we can’t arrest Todd. He has an airtight alibi. So, it seems, does the rest of your family. The only other theory we’ve got to go on right now is that someone tried to kidnap you.”

  “What?” Her body shook.

  He dropped his arms and pushed away from the desk. “I don’t mean to frighten you, but it does make sense. You’re a very wealthy woman now and—”

  “I don’t even have the pass codes to the bank accounts.” She rolled her eyes. “I told Todd I would get a lawyer if he kept refusing to give them to me.”

  McGee angled his head. “Your aunt’s will trumps everything else. You should have no problem with the banks.”

  “Todd’s contesting the will. He’s fighting me on everything.” She raised her eyes to the lieutenant. They felt gritty. “So I’m not exactly swimming in money right now.” She rubbed her left eye.

  “But the kidnapper wouldn’t know that. All they see—particularly on that goddamned Channel 12 news...” A sheepish look crossed his face. “Um, excuse the language, Miss Davis, but what I’m trying to say is, all the alleged kidnapper knows is that you, Carlee Davis, have come into quite a lot of money.”

  “So, what am I supposed to do?”

  “We’ll give you around the clock police protection.”

  She raised a brow. “You mean you’ll post a police officer in the store? And at my aunt’s house?”

  “No, the store has to stay closed for a few more days, until we finish our investigation. What I have in mind is this: You go away.”

  She snapped her brows together. “Exactly where am I supposed to go?”

  “There are these old, out-of-the way cottages called Seaside. We’ll put you up in one of them. No one will know you’re there, except me and the people I assign to watch over you. It’s safe—secluded, yet, no so much, which is good. It’s sort of like a little community unto itself.”

  Carlee’s heart raced.

  She’d be safe, under police protection…and she wouldn’t have the pressure of working in the damned store.

  She felt as though a weight lifted from her shoulders.

  She nodded. “If you think it will work, I’m in.”

  “Our aim is to keep you safe. Tomorrow, I’ll send a car for you. Be ready to leave from your aunt’s house at six.”

  Her mouth hung open. “In the morning?”

  “Yes, six a.m. Sharp.”

  She frowned. “How will I know the car is from you?”

  “Don’t worry.” McGee smiled. “You’ll know.”

  * * * *

  BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

  Early morning came a lot sooner than she expected.

  BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

  “Damn,” she mumbled while reaching over to shut off her alarm clock.

  She brushed the curls from her eyes with the back of one hand. Rising from the bed, she stretched and padded into the bathroom.

  Glancing out the window, she noticed how dark it was.

  “Brrrrrr…”

  She shuddered once then turned on the hot water. Mixing it with some cold, she splashed a liberal amount of warm water on her face, washing the sleep from her eyes.

  By five forty-five, she was dressed and ready, waiting for her police escort.

  She paced back and forth, sipping on a cup of steaming tea, her nerves frazzled. Would she be able to survive one of those cottages in Montauk’s forgotten little community of Seaside?

  November on Long Island’s North Shore could be frigid, particularly by the beach.

  She ran upstairs and grabbed another warm sweater.

  When she walked back into the den, the hum of a car motor drew her attention. She pulled back the drapes lining the windows, just enough so she could see.

  A dark sedan pulled to the curb. A man got out, strode up the walkway and rang the doorbell.

  Her hand trembled. She gripped her tea mug tighter, her knuckles white.

  He rang the bell again.

  “Coming!” she called out. Her heart pounded. Through the window, she saw him press his police badge against the pane of glass. He raised a finger to the doorbell but didn’t press it this time.

  She opened the door. “You?” she asked, pointing at Ben. “Are my escort?”

  He scowled, placing his badge back in his pocket. “Don’t sound so excited.”

  She glanced at the car.

  “Dan’s waiting. Let’s go.”

  She held up a hand. “Wait a minute. You expect me to just take off with you and Dan?”

  “You don’t have much choice.” He replied, his voice surly. Lowering it, he said. “And talking about it now is not the brightest thing to do.” He looked around. “The longer we stand around out here, the more you risk.”

  Her heart skipped a few beats.

  “You and Dan really wanted to do this?” Carlee bit her lower lip, half-anticipating, half-dreading his answer.

  He looked like he was weighing his words. “Dan and I are assigned to keep you safe.”

  “Thanks for that insight.” She gave him a sour look. “But I asked if you and Dan wanted to do this.”

  His face tightened. A muscle in his sculpted, lean jaw twitched. “It’s just another assignment. We’re doing our duty.” He glanced her way. “And that’s all it is. Whatever we all shared, it was a long time ago.” His tone sounded wistful.

  She swallowed, hard, her throat tight. “People don’t change.”

  He frowned, looking at her, surveying her outfit of jeans, t-shirt and sweater. She had left her hair free, wild—her long tresses curling around her head, shoulders and neck. In a nervous gesture, she pushed some back behind her ears.

  “Maybe they don’t change on the outside. But on the inside they do.”

  Her face fell. “Just give me a chance to show you that you could be wrong.”

  Ben grabbed her arm in a firm grasp, but he didn’t hurt her. “Just get your things. We need to leave before sunrise
.”

  Carlee walked over to her one bag, sitting by the fireplace. She took a last look at Ida’s house, a part of her glad that she wouldn’t see it again for a while.

  Ben reached for the bag, jostling it. “This is all you’re bringing?”

  “Despite what you and Dan think, I’m a rather simple girl.”

  “Right,” he replied, his voice filled with sarcasm. “You’re not high maintenance at all.”

  She wanted to smack him. She wanted to kiss him. Oh hell, she just wanted him. She needed to show him that she hadn’t changed, despite her precarious circumstances.

  She walked to the car parked at the curb.

  Ben opened the back door for her and tossed her bag on the seat. “Get in.”

  Oh hell! If he was going to be so darned surly…

  “Say ‘please.’”

  Shadows remained, some light from the rising sun shone through. She could see his face flush with anger.

  She grinned, happy to get a rise out of him. “It’s not hard you know. As long as we’re all going to be together, you could try a little courtesy.”

  “Carlee, I swear, if you don’t get in that car, I’ll—”

  “Is that a threat? You’re supposed to be protecting me, not bullying me.”

  He leaned down until they were nose-to-nose. “If you don’t get in that car right now, I’ll—” He clenched then released his hand. “Make sure you don’t sit for a week.”

  She grinned; she couldn’t help it. He was so deliciously male, so…damn, but her hormones spun out of control. The thought of being across his wide lap was just too much.

  She creamed her thong.

  “While that might be fun,” she replied, keeping her voice low, “I think I’ll just get in the car.”

  He nodded. “Smart choice.”

  She managed to have the last word, enjoying the scowl on his face. “I’d hate for you to wear out your hand.”

  She scooted across the seat. He shut the door, shaking his head, but a corner of his mouth lifted.

  “Morning!” she called to Dan.

  He turned to gaze at her, his eyes heavy with sleep.

  “I guess you’re not much of a morning person, either,” she said brightly.

  He didn’t answer.

  “If you’re still angry about kissing me that day at the police station, I’ll—”